When the San Fransisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens meet on the field Sunday evening for Super Bowl XLVII, it will be much more than just two teams battle for the coveted NFL championship. J.P. Pelzman breaks down the top individual player matchups.

San Francisco RB Frank Gore vs. Baltimore ILB Ray Lewis - Including playoffs, Gore had three of his four 100-yard rushing games this season before Colin Kaepernick replaced Alex Smith at QB. But he had 90 yards and two TDs on the ground in the NFC Championship game when Atlanta concentrated on taking away Kaepernick’s read-option runs. What makes the 5-foot-9, 217-pound Gore so effective is that he combines power with an unexpected burst when he gets past the first level of defenders, and he also is quite savvy at sizing up the blockers in front of him and hitting the hole at the perfect time. Lewis, who will be playing his final NFL game, still is making news off the field, but how effective can he be on it? Lewis now relies more on guts and guile at his advanced NFL age because of lost speed, but the more run-oriented 49ers’ offense is a better matchup for him than the fast-paced, no-huddle New England attack. If Baltimore can force Kaepernick to give up the ball instead of running it himself, Gore will be asked to run between the tackles very often. Lewis figures to be waiting for him on at least a few occasions, and both of these former University of Miami standouts can deliver some punishment. If Gore can run effectively, San Francisco will be able to play ball control and minimize passing downs for Kaepernick.